Apart of the Act.

Bryce closed his eyes and inhaled deeply before opening them again to let out a breath. His heart raced in his chest as his blue eyes stared at the door in which light reflected from. Tv static filled the room as cold sweat dripped from his chin onto the wooden floor, staining it slightly.

His body shook as he held his breath and waited. All was silent. Then, through the silence, came a loud bang on the wooden door as yelling erupted from the other side. Bryce flinched violently as he felt his body tense like its never done before.

He couldn't move.

When the door slung open his body had finally unfroze which caused him to jump up with a gasp as the feeling of his boyfriends hands wrapping around him finally reached him. "Jonathan let go!" He cried helplessly but the older male didn't listen as he violently slung him onto the couch. Screaming nonsense that even Bryce couldn't make sense of.

His eyes shut tightly as he let out a frightful gasp, Jonathan's hand wrapping around his throat. It all burned. The feeling in his throat was like a fire as his gasps become violent. He couldn't get the air he needed.

His blue eyes shut tightly as he took one last violent breath.

Bryce's blue eyes shot open as he jerked himself upright, blue eyes glancing around the room as every breath he took was violent. The blood in his veins was cold as ice even as sweat rolled off his forehead. He felt shifting beside him and nearly let out a cry.

"Bryce?" Jonathan asked as he pulled himself upright as well. "You okay?"

His boyfriend didn't say anything as his deep blue eyes started into his cold blue ones. Bryce shivered. Jonathan raised a brow at his lovers actions, "Are you okay?" Bryce tore his gaze away from his boyfriend as he tried to think of a way to reply. "Y-Yeah. Just a nightmare.." Jonathan yawned before taking him into a hug, their bodies swaying side to side in a playful manner. "You're sweating babe. Maybe you should take a shower?"

The blonde nodded as he pulled away from their hug. His fingers gripped the covers tightly as his jaw locked in a clench, his eyes had locked with Jon's again. His stomach twisted with fear and disgust.

Bryce finally was able to pull himself to the bathroom where he stripped down to his boxers then he stared at his reflection for a moment. Bags were under his eyes and his skin was sickly pale from the lack of sleep and stress. Sighing, he opened the cabinets and scanned through until his eyes landed on a brown bag. He grasped it and began to go through his boyfriends pills before gripping a bottle of sleeping medicine.

Bryce: Marcel, you free today?

•Dans Diner...

Ryan stared at the man in front of him who was munching on his food like it was the first time he's ate in years. His hazel eyes taking in the Canadian in front of him who only ignored him for a moment. He narrowed his eyes.

"Smitty do you ever stops eating?"

That question made the male look up from his food with a go-to-hell look before continuing to much on his food. "I'm starving man. I haven't ate since I left my moms this morning." Smitty stated as he swallowed his food. "Why are we here again?" Ryan rolled his eyes at that as he looked around the diner. "We're here for Bryce but I don't see him.." Smitty snickered, "Maybe he's sick."

"He's not."

"How do you know?"

"Brock."

Smitty eyed the older male in front of him and then gave a slight smile. "You know you shouldn't mess with something that isn't yours." That comment made Ryan freeze as his body stiffened a little. His hazel eyes darted to the man across from him where they locked with his brown ones. "We're friends." "You know you want to be more." "Shut up."

The sound of the bell ringing caught their attention and in came the blonde they spoke of. "Goddamn dude he looks rough!" Smitty nearly yelled as he watched the blonde walk to the front. Ryan frowned at that.

Smitty was right. Bryce was paler than usual and he had dark bags under his eyes for some unknown reason. At the moment though he couldn't do anything but watch as the blonde went into the back only to come out five minutes later, looking like a zombie. Something was up and it didn't take a scientist to see that.

As Bryce left he turns his attention to his friend who only shrugs his shoulders in confusion. Now he was worried.

•Marcel's Office...

"It seemed so real Marcel. The way his words slurred and his hands grasped me tightly.  I was so confused and scared.." Bryce's voice shook as he stared up at the ceiling in a daze. "I'm looking at him differently now..it hurts me so bad.."

Marcel stared at his friend from his seat as he watched his blue eyes stare up. His body shook and his bottom lip trembled with what seemed to be fear. Each shaky gasp sent a pain to his heart as he realized how much pain Bryce really was in. "Bryce have you took anything?"

His words made the blonde freeze as he swallowed hard. "Yes," he answered honestly. "I took some of Jon's sleeping pills but they didn't help. In fact they made me worse." Marcel had to give him credit for being honest but the fact that his friend went that far scared him..

"Then here's my next question and I expect an honest answer." Marcel said, concerned. "Has he ever hit you Bryce?"